Discrepancies between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity among asylum seekers.

The study aimed to examine discrepancies between subjective and objective assessments of physical activity and sedentary behavior among asylum seekers, and explore whether these discrepancies were associated with psychological distress. A cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected from asylum seekers (n= 30, mean age 31.36, 21 females) living in a refugee camp. Objective physical activity was measured using tri-axial accelerometers worn at the hip over a week (for an average of 5.5 days, and 11.2 hours/day), while subjective activity was assessed through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Psychological symptoms were measured using psychometrically validated mental health questionnaires. The results showed that, compared to the objective measures, participants underestimated self-reported sedentary behaviour (p<.001) and light physical activity (p=.005), and markedly overestimated vigorous activity (p=<.001); no significant differences were found for moderate physical activity. Discrepancy scores for sedentary behaviour demonstrated small to moderate, non-significant positive associations with mental health indices (r=.30 - 38), while no associations were found for any type of physical activity and mental health indices (r=.01 - .09). Attrition analyses further indicated that individuals who did not comply with accelerometer wear tended to report higher anxiety and higher sedentary time. Overall, the findings highlight substantial limitations of self-reported physical activity measures among asylum seekers and demonstrate that subjective assessments may not accurately reflect movement patterns in this population. The results underscore the importance of integrating culturally adapted self-report tools, improving adherence to objective monitoring, and employing multimethod approaches in future research and intervention planning within humanitarian contexts.